WHAT  A LIBRARY  COMMISSION 
WILL  DO  FOR  KENTUCKY 


An  address  before  the 
KENTUCKY  EDUCATIONAL 
ASSOCIATION 
at 

Estill  Spring's,  June  23,  1909 


By 

William  F.  Yust 

LIBRARIAN  OP  THE  LOUISVILLE  FREE  PUBLIC 
LIBRARY  AND  PRESIDENT  OF  THE 
KENTUCKY  LIBRARY 
ASSOCIATION 


Louisville,  Kentucky 
1909 


Educational  Advancement  in  Kentucky 


will  probably  be  marked  in  the  next  few  years.  One  of 
the  most  effective  methods  of  furthering  this  development 
will  be  the  establishment  of  a library  commission  with 
the  following  functions: 

1 ) Foster  the  development  of  libraries  in  general. 

2)  Assist  communities  desiring  to  establish  libraries. 

3)  Aid  in  improving  existing  libraries. 

4)  Conduct  a system  of  traveling  libraries. 

5)  Provide  a clearing  house  for  duplicates. 

6)  Promote  inter-library  exchanges. 


Books  and  Business 

are  close  companions  when  once  they  become  well 
acquainted  with  one  another.  This  is  specially  true  in 
our  case,  because  it  is  our  business  to  make  books.  In 
order  to  show  the  high  character  of  our  work  we  have 
printed  this  pamphlet  and  invite  you  to  examine 
it  critically  and  to  visit  our  library  bindery,  which  is  the 
largest  in  the  country. 

The  Kentucky  Book  Manufacturing  Company 
Louisville,  Kentucky 


U % v A-^ 

o v \ 

WHAT  A LIBRARY  COMMISSION  WILL  DO 
FOR  KENTUCKY 


Text:  “The  best  reading  for  the  largest  number 
it  the  least  cost.”  Theme:  What  a library  commission 
will  do  for  Kentucky.  Plan:  By  showing  what  such 
commissions  are  doing  in  other  states  to  emphasize  the 
need  and  value  of  one  in  this  state. 

A league  of  library  commissions  was  formed  five 
years  ago.  The  year  book  of  this  league  for  1908  out- 
lines fully  the  organization  and  work  in  each  state 
and  gives  “a  complete  directory  of  commission  work- 
ers.” It  contains  a wealth  of  information  which  wiJl 
repay  thorough  examination. 

This  year  book  tells  us  that  the  first  commis- 
sion was  established  in  Massachusetts  in  1890;  since 
then  the  idea  has  spread  rapidly  over  the  entire  country 
until  now  there  are  33  states  where  such  commissions 
exist.  Of  these  eight  states  are  in  the  South,  namelv 
Alabama,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  Georgia,  North 
Carolina,  Tennessee  and  Texas.  The  three  last  men- 
tioned and  Illinois  and  Utah  created  commissions  this 
year. 

This  particular  kind  of  legislation  is  one  of  the 
distinctive  landmarks  of  progress.  From  time  imme- 
morial man  has  made  his  records,  at  first  crude  and 
costly;  then  came  the  invention  of  printing,  followed 
by  a long  line  of  other  inventions,  until  now  processes 
have  been  so  perfected  that  the  great  dailies  give  us 
for  a few  pennies  the  news  from  every  quarter  of  the 
globe  on  the  day  of  the  deed.  Indeed  it  seems  al- 
most impossible  for  an  act,  a word  or  a thought  of 
consequence  to  escape  the  record.  It  is  this  habit  of 
recording  their  achievements  in  various  forms  that  has 
enabled  successive  generations  of  men  to  take  up  work 
where  it  was  laid  down  by  their  predecessors  and  thus  to 
extend  the  line  of  progress  farther  and  farther.  In 
this  way  the  printed  page  has  become  the  most  potent 
factor  of  civilization,  be  it  in  the  form  of  the  single  sheet, 
the  magazine  or  the  bound  volume.  It  is  the  cumula- 
tion, preservation  and  circulation  of  these  volumes  that 
has  produced  the  modern  library  system. 

3 


To  the  millions  of  volumes  already  published  a 
few  of  the  leading  nations  are  adding  over  50,000  new 
volumes  a year.  In  the  face  of  these  facts  it  seems  a 
pity  that  any  citizen  should  be  in  want  of  books  to  read 
or  that  any  community  should  be  without  a library. 
My  purpose  is  to  show  what  the  state  may  do  to  sup- 
ply this  want.  Permit  me  first  to  outline  what  is  be- 
ing done  in  33  other  states.  The  Commission  Year  Book 
gives  full  information  on  this  subject,  the  most 
important  points  of  which  may  be  grouped  under  five 
heads: 

1)  Advisory  work.  2)  Organizing  work.  3)  Build- 
ing plans.  4)  Instruction.  5)  Traveling  libraries. 

1 Advisory  Work 

In  most  cases  the  demand  for  assistance  is  so 
great  that  the  commissions  are  kept  busy  responding  to 
calls.  In  other  cases  they  take  the  initiative  for  the 
purpose  of  arousing  communities  to  a consideration  of 
their  needs  and  possibilities  and  directing  them  toward 
the  establishment  of  libraries.  They  keep  in  close 
touch  with  library  conditions  in  every  part  of  the  state. 
They  call  attention  to  and  explain  the  law  under  which 
municipal  libraries  may  be  established  and  they  en- 
courage all  cities  and  towns  to  take  advantage  of  the 
law.  They  advise  as  to  the  best  method  of  procedure. 
They  do  much  by  correspondence.  When  desirable  a 
representative  goes  to  the  community  which  is  agitating 
the  library  question,  counsels  with  those  in  charge  of  the 
local  campaign,  furnishes  literature  for  the  press  and 
for  distribution,  delivers  addresses  at  clubs  and  pub- 
lic meetings  and  in  every  proper  way  assists  in  having 
the  question  intelligently  and  fairly  presented  for  con- 
sideration by  the  voters  or  by  the  municipal  authorities. 
Failure  to  secure  favorable  consideration  is  frequently 
due  to  misunderstanding  or  misrepresentation.  At  the 
proper  time  the  question  should  be  put  squarely  before 
every  city  and  town  for  acceptance  or  rejection. 

In  libraries  already  established  they  confer  with 
librarians  and  trustees  regarding  methods  of  work,  and 
plans  for  development,  the  selecting  and  cataloging  of 
books,  methods  of  advertising  and  popularizing  the  lib- 
rary, in  short  regarding  any  question  of  library  admin- 
istration looking  toward  the  greatest  efficiency  and  the 
best  results.  They  give  assistance  to  old  libraries  in- 
troducing modern  methods. 

4 


2 Organizing'  Work 


After  it  has  been  decided  to  establish  a library 
help  is  given  in  organizing  the  board  of  control  and  in 
providing  plans  for  a building  and  furnishings.  It  is  a 
popular  error  to  suppose  that  the  first  and  most  im- 
portant thing  is  a library  building.  It  is  frequently  best 
for  the  building  to  come  last.  Sometimes  the  most  ef- 
fective way  of  securing  a building  is  for  a time  to  main- 
tain a free  library  on  a small  scale  in  temporary  quarters 
through  voluntary  contributions  until  its  value  is  demon- 
strated. The  experience  thus  obtained  is  of  the  greatest 
value  to  trustees  in  planning  a new  building  and  form- 
ing a permanent  organization. 

In  this  work  they  should  profit  by  the  experience 
of  others  who  have  wrestled  with  these  problems  and 
have  learned  certain  things  only  through  costly  experi- 
ments. Of  special  value  is  assistance  on  technical  mat- 
ters such  as  classifying  and  cataloging  books  and  the 
most  approved  method  of  keeping  various  records.  Some 
of  the  commissions  on  request  send  a trained  organizer 
to  new  libraries  just  beginning,  who  works  with  the  lo- 
cal librarian  for  several  weeks  or  more,  giving  instruc- 
tion and  helping  the  library  to  start  right. 

3 Building  Plans 

But  when  a building  is  to  be  erected,  it  should  be 
the  best  that  can  be  obtained  for  the  money,  suitably 
arranged  for  convenient  and  economic  service  as  well 
as  for  handsome  appearance.  Some  very  unfortunate 
mistakes  have  been  made  by  those  who  have  ignored 
the  experience  of  others.  The  Indiana  “commission  has 
a collection  of  photographs  and  floor  plans  of  several 
hundred  library  buildings.  They  have  proved  of  great 
vaiue  to  architects  and  library  boards  and  a decided  im- 
provement has  resulted  in  library  construction  in  towns 
where  the  plans  have  been  loaned.  In  addition  to 
plans  of  buildings  the  commission  has  a small  collection 
of  blue  print  drawings  showing  dimensions  and  con- 
struction of  shelving,  newspaper  and  periodical  racks, 
etc.”  Good  inexpensive  furniture  has  been  made  from 
these  blue  prints  and  used  until  there  was  sufficient 
money  available  to  purchase  the  best  library  furniture 
in  the  market.  The  assistance  a commission  may  give 
in  the  erection  of  a single  building  may  be  worth  the 
entire  cost  of  the  commission  for  several  years. 

5 


« 


4 Instruction 


The  amount  and  method  of  instruction  varies  in  dif- 
ferent states  from  a few  hours  interview  in  the  local 
library  to  a full  two  year  course  in  a regular  library 
shool.  Considerable  instruction  is  also  given  by 
correspondence.  Summer  library  school  courses  of 
about  six  weeks  are  regularly  conducted  by  more  than  a 
dozen  states.  These  admit  only  those  who  are  already 
engaged  in  library  work  and  desire  to  improve  them- 
selves or  are  under  definite  appointment  to  library  posi- 
tions for  which  they  wish  to  prepare. 

A number  of  states  hold  library  institutes  annually 
in  various  parts  of  the  state;  these  bring  together  the 
librarians  in  a given  section  and  stimulate  their  efforts 
through  discussion  of  problems  and  a comparison  of  ways 
and  means.  Institutions  and  individuals  have  thus 
been  brought  into  helpful  relations  toward  one  another. 
In  some  states  the  commissions  have  been  instrumental 
in  having  brief  courses  of  instruction  introduced  into  the 
normal  schools  whereby  teachers,  present  and  prospective, 
are  familiarized  with  some  of  the  more  important  fea- 
tures of  library  work.  Through  each  and  all  of  these 
different  agencies  correct  ideas  are  disseminated,  ideals 
enlarged  and  the  general  standard  of  efficiency  improved. 

5 Traveling  Libraries 

Traveling  libraries  constitute  the  most  generally 
accepted  and  economical  form  of  state  aid  to  libraries.  A 
traveling  library  is  a small  box  of  25  or  more  books 
which  are  loaned  in  a given  place  for  a limited  time,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  they  are  returned  to  headquarters 
or  sent  elsewhere.  They  are  designed  1)  to  supply 
an  immediate  need  in  localities  which  can  not  support  lib- 
raries of  their  own  and  2)  to  develop  a desire  for 
permanent  local  libraries.  They  also  come  to  the  aid 
of  “struggling  libraries  with  limited  funds”  and  of 
school's  with  longings  for  something  more  than  text 
books.  There  are  at  present  25  states  with  traveling 
library  systems  aggregating  over  400,000  volumes.  They 
have  grown  to  be  a very  popular  form  of  popular  edu- 
cation. They  may  be  divided  into  two  classes,  miscel- 
laneous collections  and  special  collections. 

1)  General,  or  miscellaneous  collections.  These 
are  libraries  for  general  reading,  whose  purpose  is  to 
provide  free  libraries  for  communities  which  have  no 
such  institution.  These  libraries  go  to  the  general  pub- 

6 


lie  in  villages  or  towns  or  to  any  grange,  post,  lodge  or 
farmers’  club  or  to  individual  families  in  the  country,  to 
schools  or  to  other  state,  county  and  municipal  insti- 
tutions. 

2)  Libraries  on  special  subjects  selected  to  meet  the 
needs  of  applicants.  These  go  to  reading  circles  and 
study  clubs  in  towns  or  in  the  country,  to  teachers  and 
pupils  in  village  or  rural  schools.  They  are  even  sent 
to  individuals  who  are  interested  in  some  particular  line 
of  study,  but  who  do  not  have  access  to  a library.  In 
some  cases  clubs  pursuing  definite  lines  of  study  may 
have  books  purchased  specially  to  suit  their  program, 
which  is  prepared  in  advance  with  this  understanding. 

Traveling  Libraries  of  the  Kentucky  Federation  of 
Women’s  Clubs 

Although  Kentucky  as  a state  has  never  done  any- 
thing for  traveling  libraries,  these  have  existed  here  for 
13  years  under  the  management  of  the  State  Federation 
of  Women’s  Clubs.  Berea  College  has  also  maintained 
some  for  several  years.  The  following  account  of  the 
federation  libraries  is  taken  from  this  year’s  report  of 
Miss  Fannie  C.  Rawson,  Chairman  of  the  Traveling 
Library  Committee: 

“In  June  1896  through  an  appeal  from  a missionary 
the  attention  of  the  Women’s  Federation  was  called  to 
the  peculiar  need  of  the  people  in  the  eastern  section  of 
the  state.  We  were  told  of  children  who  had  never 
seen  a picture  book,  of  districts  whose  only  reading 
matter  was  a few  necessary  school  books,  of  com- 
munities where  even  a newspaper  seldom  entered. 

As  an  experiment  six  cases  of  books  were  placed 
in  as  many  small  mountain  towns.  From  the  beginning 
the  library  was  received  with  interest,  and  as  the  work 
became  better  known  the  demand  for  the  books  grew 
at  an  astonishing  rate.  Urgent  calls  came  from  people 
throughout  the  mountains.  Teachers,  preachers,  doc- 
tors, merchants,  postmasters  and  private  citizens  offered 
their  services  as  librarians.  The  libraries  grew  in  num- 
ber as  rapidly  as  the  funds  permitted,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  the  work  ceased  to  be  an  experiment  and 
became  a recognized  educational  force  in  the  territory 
which  it  covers. 

7 


« 


There  are  now  94  cases  of  books,  each  containing 
about  60  volumes,  or  a total  of  about  5,800  volumes. 
The  work  is  entirely  voluntary  and  is  supported  by  an 
annual  contribution  of  10  cents  per  capita  from  the 
members  of  the  Kentucky  Federation,  all  of  which  is 
spent  for  cases  and  transportation.  The  cases  are  sup- 
plied with  books  through  the  personal  gifts  of  the  club 
members. 

Each  case  contains  one-third  stories  for  children, 
one-third  fiction  for  adults  and  one-third  history,  biog- 
raphy, travel,  nature  studies,  useful  arts  and  poetry,  a 
dictionary  and  a Bible.  These  little  libraries  are 
scattered  all  through  the  eastern  portion  of  the  state, 
at  county  seats,  and  small  mountain  towns,  in  isolated 
homes  and  out-of-the-way  places,  in  lumber  and  mining 
camps,  in  post-offices,  schools  and  churches,  everywhere 
furnishing  not  only  mental  stimulus  but  also  employment 
and  entertainment,  the  best  protection  against  the  en- 
forced idle  hours  of  a dreary  mountain  winter.  The 
reports  of  these  libraries  speak  eloquently  of  their  great 
value. 

They  are  circulated  now  in  29  countries  and  are 
confined  entirely  to  the  eastern  section  of  the  state,  for 
which  the  supply  however  is  totally  inadequate.  In  the 
western  section,  where  the  demand  for  books,  if  not  the 
need,  is  far  greater,  there  is  no  traveling  library  system 
whatever  and  no  prospect  of  one  until  the  state  takes 
the  matter  in  hand.” 

In  16  states  now  having  traveling  libraries  sup- 
ported by  the  state  they  were  first  established  by  women’s 
clubs  and  maintained  by  them  until  the  state  recognized 
their  value  and  assumed  control  over  them.  The  women 
of  Kentucky  were  among  the  first  to  take  up  this  im- 
portant educational  work,  but  the  state  has  so  far  failed 
to  take  the  next  step  and  do  its  share.  Thirteen  years 
ago  these  progressive  women  saw  a need  and  they  have 
been  struggling  ever  since  to  supply  it.  The  time  has 
now  arrived  for  the  state  to  come  forward  like  a man 
and  do  its  duty  by  these  women,  and  do  its  duty  by  its 
own  citizens,  who  are  entitled  to  this  educational  ad- 
vantage which  has  been  so  thoroughly  tried  in  every 
section  of  the  country.  That  the  appetite  which  these 
women  have  whetted  is  greater  than  they  can  satisfy 
is  a tribute  to  the  effectiveness  of  their  efforts,  a tribute 
to  the  natural  desires  and  aspirations  of  the  people. 
These  women  have  done  a wonderful  work,  but  they 

8 


have  only  touched  the  borderland  of  library  possibilities. 
The  greater  portion  of  the  state  has  still  to  learn  the 
value  of  traveling  libraries  and  their  various  lines  of 
usefulness  as  outlined  in  a previous  paragraph.  A great 
field  of  opportunity  lies  here  waiting  for  the  strong  arm 
of  the  state  to  undertake  its  development. 

Popular  Education 

Our  system  of  popular  education  is  complete  in  its 
outline.  It  begins  with  the  kindergarten  and  extends 
through  the  grades  to  the  high  school  and  thence  to 
the  college  and  the  university.  It  is  a magnificent  ideal 
to  hold  before  the  ambitious  student.  Fortunate  indeed 
is  the  man  or  woman  who  has  the  opportunity  and  the 
perseverance  to  complete  such  a course.  But  how  very 
few  reach  the  college  or  the  university.  What  a 
small  proportion  get  through  the  high  school,  and  alas 
the  great  majority  never  finish  the  grades.  According 
to  the  report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Education  the 
average  amount  of  schooling  per  inhabitant  in  the 
United  States  is  less  than  five  and  one-half  years.  This 
means  that  the  great  mass  of  pupils  have  only  a bowing 
acquaintance  with  the  three  R’s  when,  they  leave  school 
either  voluntarily  or  because  they  are  forced  by  economic 
conditions  to  become  breadwinners. 

What  happens  then?  Their  development  does  not 
stop,  but  it  is  impaired.  The  state  however  does  little 
or  nothing  further  for  them,  while  it  makes  liberal 
provision  for  the  comparatively  few  who  remain  in 
school.  Is  this  fair  to  the  individual  or  wise  from  the 
standpoint  of  the  state?  Is  it  good  public  policy?  In  a 
democracy  the  laws  express  “the  combined  political  will 
of  the  people.”  The  government  will  represent  the  in- 
telligence and  ideals  of  the  average  citizen;  it  will  be  no 
stronger  and  no  better.  The  supreme  importance  of 
education  is  therefore  apparent  not  only  for  the  good 
of  the  citizen,  but  also  for  the  stability  of  the  state. 
But  if  that  education  is  limited  to  five  and  one-half  years 
it  can  not  produce  a strong  citizenship  or  strengthen  the 
state  itself. 

Continuous  Education 

Recently  stress  has  been  laid  on  what  is  termed 
“continuous  education.”  It  should  not  be  necessary  for 
the  systematic  education  of  the  average  person  to  be 
confined  to  a half  dozen  years  in  school,  or  even  for  that 
of  a graduate  to  stop  when  he  receives  his  diploma. 
Education  is  a life-long  process.  It  is  a continuous 

9 


development  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave.  Only  a small 
part  of  it  takes  place  in  the  schools;  and  yet  their 
function  is  most  important,  even  if  they  do  nothing  more 
than  start  the  individual  in  the  race  of  life. 

But  there  is  hope  even  if  he  learns  only  to  read  and 
write.  The  ability  to  read  is  an  equipment  that  will 
enable  any  one  with  energy  and  determination  to  educate 
himself.  Ex-President  Eliot  has  aroused  much  interest 
in  his  plan  to  select  from  the  great  books  of  the  world 
enough  to  fill  five  feet  of  shelving.  He  says  that  the 
faithful  and  considerate  reading  of  these  books  for  15 
minutes  a day  “will  give  any  man  the  essentials  of  a 
liberal  education.,, 

The  most  ardent  advocate  could  not  have  spoken  a 
finer  word  for  the  free  public  library.  The  great  need 
of  a larger  measure  of  liberal  education  and  training  is 
everywhere  in  evidence.  Witness  the  constant  struggle 
for  the  improvement  of  our  regular  schools,  for  more  of 
them  and  for  longer  terms.  Witness  the  popularity  of 
summer  and  vacation  schools,  of  night  schools,  of  trade 
and  correspondence  schools,  all  testifying  to  the  demand 
for  popular  education. 

Growth  of  Libraries 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  as  a contribution  to  the 
solution  of  this  problem  it  is  my  privilege  to  present  for 
your  consideration  the  free  public  library.  We  are 
assured  that  five  feet  of  books  may  furnish  anyone  the 
essentials  of  a liberal  education;  this  from  the  dean  of 
American  educators  after  40  years  of  experience  as 
president  of  Harvard  University.  Andrew  Carnegie  con- 
siders free  public  libraries  the  best  agencies  for 
improving  the  masses  of  the  people.  He  calls  them  “the 
cradles  of  triumphant  democracy.,,  The  strength  of  his 
conviction  can  be  measured  by  his  marvelous  donations, 
numbering  1,800  library  buildings  and  costing 
$51,596,903.00.  Last  year  32  of  the  largest  cities  in 
the  United  States  expended  for  regular  library  main- 
tenance $4,185,828.00.  Much  of  the  most  valuable  work 
done  by  libraries  can  not  be  recorded,  and  yet  the  records 
show  that  in  these  32  cities  during  a single  year  the 
circulation  of  books  among  the  people  reached  the 
enormous  number  of  32,445,334  volumes.  We  have 
already  seen  that  32  states  have  not  only  established 
libraries  for  the  benefit  of  the  state  officials  but  they 
have  also  created  library  commissions  to  assist  in  bring- 
ing books  to  all  the  people.  The  United  States 

10 


Government  is  setting  a worthy  example  in  the  Library  of 
Congress.  In  the  last  ten  years  its  organization  and 
work  has  been  greatly  enlarged  and  improved  and  its 
usefulness  extended  to  small  libraries  in  every  corner 
of  the  country,  making  it  truly  the  Library  of  the  Nation. 

Thus  we  see  how  far  reaching  are  the  conquests  of 
the  free  library  idea  in  the  city,  the  state  and  the  nation. 
We  see  how  private  and  public  purses  are  being  opened 
and  their  contents  poured  forth  to  establish  and  maintain 
libraries.  We  see  that  in  theory  and  in  practice  the  free 
library  is  a power  in  the  life  of  today. 

The  Library  and  the  School 

Although  there  is  this  general  appreciation  of  the 
library,  it  should  appeal  with  peculiar  force  to  those  who 
teach,  because  of  the  insight,  the  outlook  and  the  uplift 
it  gives  to  them  personally  as  well  as  the  larger 
knowledge,  interest  and  enthusiasm  it  brings  to  their 
pupils.  There  is  a saying  that  the  librarian  who  reads 
is  lost.  It  may  be  added  that  the  teacher  who  does  not 
read  has  probably  never  found  himself  and  the  pupil 
who  is  confined  entirely  to  his  text  books  will  often  find 
them  “stale,  flat  and  unprofitable. ” 

“At  first,”  writes  one  teacher,  “I  regarded  the  idea 
of  library  work  in  the  school  room  with  suspicion.  It 
seemed  to  promise  only  an  additional  burden  to  be  feared 
by  teacher  and  pupil  alike.  But  things  are  different  now. 
The  library  books  are  our  most  welcome  visitors.  They 
have  brought  new  life  into  the  school  room,  and  they 
appeal  even  to  the  bad  boy.  Instead  of  adding  to  our 
troubles  they  have  lightened  our  labors  and  multiplied 
their  results.” 

Although  this  letter  is  a kind  of  minority  report, 
it  is  a strong  testimonial  to  the  value  of  co-operation 
between  the  library  and  the  school.  With  the  great  body 
of  teachers  this  principle  finds  a ready  response.  They 
realize  that  the  library  and  the  school  are  the  comple- 
ments of  each  other;  that  they  are  both  integral  parts  of 
a complete  system  of  popular  education  and  must  work 
together  in  harmony.  This  relation  now  obtains  where 
the  most  effective  work  is  being  done. 

But  this  relation  can  not  exist  where  libraries  are 
lacking.  There  are  only  about  20  cities  and  towns  in 
Kentucky  with  free  circulating  libraries.  In  these  days 
we  hear  much  of  educational  needs,  of  better  school 
buildings  and  longer  terms.  Well  and  good.  But  we 

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need  also  libraries  which  will  keep  up  the  good  work 
all  the  year  round.  We  need  not  only  teachers  and  text 
books  and  training  for  the  boys  and  girls  at  school  bui. 
also  library  books  that  will  enable  them  and  their 
fathers  and  mothers  to  continue  their  education  at  home 
through  life. 

The  Kentucky  Library  Commission  as  soon  as  it  is 
created  should  begin  at  once  a systematic  campaign  for 
obtaining  complete  and  correct  reports  from  every 
community  in  the  state  as  to  whether  it  has  a library  and 
of  what  kind,  whether  it  is  free  or  subscription,  whether 
it  belongs  to  an  institution,  to  a private  citizen  or  to  the 
public  and  whether  it  is  alive  or  dead.  If  the  community 
has  no  library,  why  not,  and  what  are  the  prospects? 
Do  the  people  want  a library  and  are  they  working 
for  it? 

What  this  library  commission  should  do  for 
Kentucky  may  be  summarized  as  follows: 

1)  Foster  the  development  of  libraries  in  general. 

2)  Aid  communities  desiring  to  establish  libraries. 

3)  Aid  in  improving  existing  libraries. 

4)  Provide  a clearing  house  for  periodicals  and 
duplicates  and  promote  inter-library  exchanges. 

5)  Arrange  for  the  distribution  of  national,  state 
and  municipal  public  documents. 

6.  Conduct  a system  of  traveling  libraries. 

Only  a Library  Commission  can  do  this  work  prop- 
erly and  see  that  the  state  stands  well  and  is  correctly 
represented.  When  the  census  of  1910  is  published 
Kentucky  should  be  included  in  the  commission  column 
to  show  that  her  educational  progress  has  kept  pace 
with  her  commercial  development.  This  commission 
should  not  rest  until  free  books  are  brought  within  reach 
of  every  citizen,  whether  he  lives  in  the  city  or  in  the 
country,  and  until  there  is  a free  library  in  every  city 
and  town  in  the  commonwealth. 

Thus  looking  forward  we  may  join  in  the  vision  of 
Milton:  Methinks  I see  in  my  mind’s  eye  a noble  and 
puissant  commonwealth  rousing  herself  like  a strong 
man  after  sleep  and  shaking  her  invincible  locks.  Me- 
thinks I see  her  as  an  eagle  muing  her  mighty  youth 
and  purging  herself  for  flight  in  the  radiant  light  of  a 
new  day. 


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